Capitalism aside, Ferengis are a sexist society to the core. The Ferengi male views his female as property not to be shared nor exposed to the public. Females are not allowed an article clothing, earning of profit, traveling, looking or speaking to strangers, or even quoting from the sacred Rules of Acquisition. Another demeaning practice females are subjected to is chewing food for the males. This inbred sexism is sanctioned in rule no.94: Females and finances don't mix and no.139: Wives serve, brothers inherit. Even so, a Ferengi regards his mother with affection, often taking comfort in laying his head in her lap and defending her honor against the taunts of mean-spirited playmates.
Small nuclear families consisting of the father, mother, and children makes up the family structure of Ferengi society. Grandparents and cousins do not live within the same household. The father figure is the sole bread-earner, so his position is supreme in the house. Quark the Deep Space Nine bartender has an exceptionally unique mother. Ferengi marriages are male-oriented, with a string of Latinum Dances, Bridal Auctions, and of course the scantily clad bride to mark the event.
The total enslavement of the female population seems to come quite natural to the males, and they even attribute their family harmony to such a culture. However, affirmative action seems to have come into vogue even in Ferenginar. Grand Nagus Zek revised the Ferengi Bill of Opportunities to include female Ferengis. Understandably, Ferengi culture is still adapting to the sweeping winds of change.
In government, the Ferengis
are as openly corrupt as they are in daily life. The Tower of Commerce on Ferenginar,
tallest building within the Ferengi Alliance, is the bastion of profit-taking
and scheming. Going up the tower in an elevator will cost seven slips of latinum.
Talking to the front desk will mean another slip. Standing, sitting, coming,
going, the Tower absolutely swallows latinum with unparalleled voracity. Housed
within the Tower of Commerce is the headquarters of the Ferengi Commerce Association
(FCA), the most powerful single organization within the Alliance. It is the
terror of the land, as is has jurisdiction over every aspect of a Ferengi's
profit and property. Every Ferengi must submit a yearly statement listing all
the profits earned that year. Most Ferengis conveniently "forget"
to put a few items on the list, and that is where the Ferengi IRS personnel
come in. Registered Liquidators are sent in to investigate charges of misreported
profits, and if evidence is found, or the bribe insufficient, all the property
and holdings will be summarily liquidated.
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